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ZIP code

56629

in Birchdale, MinnesotaPopulation 224

ZipVitals Score
How is the ZipVitals Score calculated? →

50.95/ 100

Ranked #14,933 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 47%)

Ranked #649 of 866 Minnesota ZIPs (bottom 25%)

Ranks are modeled estimates — ZIPs a few hundred places apart are effectively tied.

Robust across all 9 health domains

What defines this ZIP

Metrics where this ZIP sits in the tails of the national distribution — the ones that most set it apart. Select any tile for its definition and methodology.

Distance to an emergency room

41.2 mi

in the top 1.1% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST99th
US99th
Definition & source ›

The distance in miles from this ZIP’s edge to the nearest Medicare-certified hospital with an emergency room.

Full methodology ›

Walkability

0.52 intersections/sq mi

in the bottom 1.1% nationally

Higher is healthier

ST1st
US1st
Definition & source ›

The number of street intersections per square mile — a standard street-connectivity measure; denser networks correlate with more walkable neighborhoods.

Full methodology ›

Energy-cost burden

6.3%

in the top 2.1% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST95th
US98th
Definition & source ›

The modeled share of household income spent on home energy bills — electricity, gas, and heating fuels.

A modeled share of household income spent on home energy. Estimates that hit the model’s 100% ceiling are suppressed rather than published, because at that point the figure reflects the model’s limit rather than a measured burden.

Full methodology ›

Loneliness

26.4%

in the bottom 1.7% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST3rd
US2nd
Definition & source ›

The estimated share of adults who report feeling lonely.

Full methodology ›

Poverty rate

0.00%

at the national minimum

Lower is healthier

ST1st
US1st
Definition & source ›

The share of residents whose income is below the federal poverty line, from the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey.

Full methodology ›

Air-toxics cancer risk

10 per million

in the bottom 2.8% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST1st
US3rd
Definition & source ›

The EPA’s modeled estimate of added lifetime cancer risk from breathing outdoor air toxics, in cases per million people exposed over a lifetime.

Full methodology ›

Transportation noise

0.00%

in the bottom 4.8% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST4th
US5th
Definition & source ›

The modeled share of residents exposed to average road, rail, and aviation noise at or above 55 decibels — a noticeable background presence.

Full methodology ›

Humid extreme heat

7.5 days/year

in the bottom 4.8% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST2nd
US5th
Definition & source ›

The average number of days per year when modeled heat stress — temperature, humidity, sun, and wind combined — reaches levels hard on the body outdoors.

Full methodology ›

Fine-particle (PM2.5) exceedance

1.6%

in the top 5.6% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST76th
US94th
Definition & source ›

The share of days in the year when modeled fine-particle (PM2.5) pollution was above the EPA’s daily limit of 35 micrograms per cubic meter.

Full methodology ›

Housing-cost burden

7.5%

in the bottom 6.8% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST2nd
US7th
Definition & source ›

The share of households spending 30% or more of their income on housing.

Full methodology ›

The read

In its overall standing, Birchdale, Minnesota (ZIP 56629) lands in the top 47% healthiest ZIPs nationally (14,933rd) and the bottom 25% of Minnesota (649th).

continue reading

This area's measures are easy to read as a mixed set: modeled loneliness stands in the bottom 1.7% nationally, poverty rests at the national minimum, and modeled air-toxics cancer risk registers in the bottom 2.8% nationally. Modeled transportation noise resides in the bottom 4.8% nationally, modeled humid heat settles in the bottom 4.8% nationally, and housing-cost burden is in the bottom 6.8% nationally. Set against that, distance to an emergency room sits in the top 1.1% nationally, and walkability lands in the bottom 1.1% nationally. Modeled energy burden lies in the top 2.1% nationally, and fine-particle stands in the top 5.6% nationally.

Put simply, air-toxics cancer risk is a modeled EPA estimate of added lifetime cancer risk from breathing outdoor air, per million people. Fine-particle is fine airborne particles about one-thirtieth the width of a hair, counted on modeled days above the EPA standard. Energy burden is the share of household income that goes to home energy bills. On the overall standing, ZIP 56623, just across the boundary, ranks healthier.

What’s driving this score

Nine domains make up the ZipVitals Score — here is how this ZIP does on each, and how much each one counts.

Compared with the ZIP codes measured across all nine scoring domains — not with all US ZIP codes.

Compare within

Lifting this score

Environmental Hazard

healthier than 94%

14%

Preventive Care

healthier than 92%

13%

Mental Health

healthier than 89%

8%

Climate / Disaster Risk

healthier than 96%

5%

About typical

Risk Behavior

healthier than 57%

11%

Holding it back

Chronic Disease Burden

healthier than 16%

21%

Social Need / SDOH

healthier than 12%

16%

Disability

healthier than 37%

7%

Healthcare Access

healthier than 7%

5%

Lifting this score

Environmental Hazard

in the top 1.0%

14%

Preventive Care

healthier than 96%

13%

Mental Health

healthier than 99%

8%

Climate / Disaster Risk

healthier than 96%

5%

Holding it back

Chronic Disease Burden

healthier than 2%

21%

Social Need / SDOH

healthier than 5%

16%

Risk Behavior

healthier than 32%

11%

Disability

healthier than 7%

7%

Healthcare Access

healthier than 36%

5%

“Share” is how much of this ZIP’s score the domain accounts for. Percentages are rounded; higher is healthier in every domain. How the score works, and who it compares you with ›

Nearby & similar ZIPs

Editorially selected — see how this ZIP compares to nearby and similar places.

How these were chosen: only ZIPs with a published Score appear — a nearby ZIP with too little data to score won’t. Nearby means closest by distance between ZIP boundaries, which can cross state lines. A similar health profile is a close match across the nine Score domains, not similar demographics. Distances are measured between ZIP boundaries — ZIPs that touch share a border. How distance is measured

Evidence

Every measure this page draws on, by source. Collapsed by default — the full data stays in the page for search engines either way.

Health OutcomesCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Arthritis among adults34.5%30.4–38.6
High blood pressure among adults46.2%41.2–51.2
Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults12.9%11.5–14.5
Current asthma among adults9.6%8.5–10.9
Coronary heart disease among adults10.5%9.0–12.1
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults9.5%7.6–11.6
Depression among adults21.0%17.7–24.5
Diagnosed diabetes among adults16.6%14.2–19.4
High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened42.8%37.8–47.9
Obesity among adults39.4%31.6–47.2
Stroke among adults5.0%4.3–5.9
All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years10.9%8.7–13.4
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years6.6%4.5–9.3
Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure83.9%80.7–86.7
Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults80.0%76.4–83.3
Cholesterol screening among adults90.8%89.1–92.4
Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years71.5%66.3–76.3
Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults66.0%62.4–69.6
Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years79.4%72.3–85.4
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Binge drinking among adults14.9%12.2–18.0
Current cigarette smoking among adults18.3%14.1–22.4
No leisure-time physical activity among adults30.0%24.3–35.7
Short sleep duration among adults30.2%24.3–36.5
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults21.2%17.2–25.6
Frequent mental distress among adults12.8%11.0–14.7
Frequent physical distress among adults15.7%13.4–18.2
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Cognitive disability among adults12.2%10.1–14.4
Any disability among adults34.3%29.0–39.5
Hearing disability among adults10.9%9.5–12.4
Independent living disability among adults8.1%6.7–9.6
Mobility disability among adults18.0%14.8–21.4
Self-care disability among adults4.9%4.0–6.0
Vision disability among adults5.3%4.3–6.3
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Lack of social and emotional support among adults20.3%16.7–24.5
Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults10.6%7.8–14.0
Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults7.8%5.7–10.4
Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults7.4%5.8–9.3
Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults6.1%4.9–7.4
Loneliness among adults26.4%21.7–31.3
Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults5.1%4.1–6.1
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
MeasureValueUS median (p10–p90)MN median (p10–p90)
Poverty rate0.0%10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,3648.4% (3.6–16.8%) n=872
Uninsured 18–640.0%9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,2866.2% (2.3–12.7%) n=872
No HS diploma (25+)0.0%7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,5055.5% (2.2–11.2%) n=873
Bachelor's or higher (25+)9.1%23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,50523.4% (13.6–48.8%) n=873
Unemployment rate (16+)0.0%3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,2743.2% (0.8–7.1%) n=872
Households without a vehicle13.2%3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,3223.4% (0.4–9.1%) n=871
Broadband subscription75.5%89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,32289.2% (81.6–95.3%) n=871
Housing cost burden (≥30% income)7.5%23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,32222.1% (14.0–31.1%) n=871
Homeownership rate74.5%78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,32283.9% (67.0–94.0%) n=871
Crowded housing (>1 per room)0.0%1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,3221.1% (0.0–3.9%) n=871
Foreign-born population0.0%2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,5531.8% (0.1–11.9%) n=873
Single-parent households70.2%53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,08756.9% (44.1–70.7%) n=870
Population 65+33.5%19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,55320.2% (12.7–30.7%) n=873
Median age51.4 yr42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,29242.3 yr (35.2–54.3) n=873
Median household income$90,938$72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318$77,917 ($58,441–$110,840) n=864
Median home value$212,100$222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049$234,000 ($132,740–$396,860) n=857
Median gross rent—$1,021 ($677–$1,912) n=25,670$925 ($650–$1,588) n=759
Life expectancyNCHS / RWJF USALEEP · model-based
MeasureValueUS median (p10–p90)MN median (p10–p90)
Life expectancy at birth81.4 yr ± 2.8278.9 yr (74.7–82.8) n=31,30881.1 yr (78.3–84.8) n=864

About the ± — it’s this estimate’s give-or-take (statisticians call it the standard error). The true life expectancy for this ZIP most likely falls within 2.82 years of 81.4, and it’s very unlikely to be off by more than twice that.

More ZIPs to explore ▾

How these lists were built: they draw only from ZIPs that have a published Score, so ZIPs with too little data to score are not listed. Distance-based lists use distance between ZIP boundaries with no state filter, so an out-of-state ZIP can appear. Statistically similar means a close match across the nine Score domains, not a demographic match: the measure is the cosine similarity between two ZIPs’ domain scores, taken over the domains both ZIPs have data for and only where that overlap covers at least six of the nine — and where no ZIP clears that minimum-overlap floor, that list is left out rather than filled with a weak match. How distance is measured